Improvement in machines for tapping gas and water-fittings



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. B. LONG.

MACHINE FOR TAPPING GAS AND WATER FITTINGS.

No. 113,314. Y Patented Apr. 4, 1871.

Jn/ n "m'fiesses i Tn: uonms PETERS co wonmumou WASHINGTON, l:v c.

C B 3 Sheets-$-heet 2. NE FOR TAPPING GAS ANDWATER FITTINGS. N0. 113,314.

Patented Apr. 4, 1871 min ass es Inz/nor O. B. LONG.

3 Sheets-'Sheet 3.

MAGHINE FOR TAPPING GAS AND WATER FITTINGS.

Patenteupr; 4, 1871.

CHARLES B. LONG, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 118,814, dated April 4, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT iN MACHINES FOR TAPPING GAS AND WATER-FITTINGS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making put oi the same.

To all whom it man; concern.-

Be it known that I, Ounnnas B. Lone, of the city and county of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tapping-Machines for tapping steam,

gas, and water-pipe fittings, and -for other purposes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, in which- I Figure 1 represents a plan view of my improved tapping machine.

Figure 2 represents a side view of the same.

Figure 3 represents a central vertical section of one of the tap-spindles and its operating devices.

Figure 4 represents a plan view of the levers for operating the thrust bearing forks.

Figure 5 represents a central vertical section of the fitting-holder or vise.

Figure 6 represents a side view of the thrust bearing and its support.

Figure 7 represents a transverse vertical section of the feed-screw, and end view of the thrust bearing.

To enable those skilled in the art to which my invention belongs to make and use the same, I will proceed to describe it more in detail.

The nature of my invention consists in the combinations set forth in the claims.

In the drawing The parts marhedAindicate the main frame, which is, in this instance, made with three wings or divisions, A A A, that are arranged radially at right angles to each other around the circular central portion A, in the manner illustrated in figs. 1 and 2.

The frame is supported upon suitable standards orv legs, a, set under the extremities of the several wings, as shown.

Horizontal operating-shafts, B B B, are arranged within the wings A. A A of the frame, where they are supported, and turn in suitable bearings, b b.

Each shaft is provided with a bevel-gear, O, at its inner end, which meshes into a central bevel-gear, D, arranged in a horizontal position within the circular centralpart of the frame A.

The gear D is attached to the upper end of a vertical spindle D which latter is supported in the proper position by the step and collar-bearings c and 1 upon the tri-braced hanger-D at the under side of the frame A. The gear D insures a uniform motion between all the cperating-sbafts, while, at the same time, power is transmitted through it to the wings of the machine.

Mounted upon the top of the several wings A A A are head-blocks E E E, which support the tapspindles and their operating devices. The devices on each of the head-blocks being substantially the same,

it will be necessary to explain but one, all being simi-y larly lettered upon the drawing.

F indicates a hollow shaft, supported to turn in bearings e j, and connected for operation to the shaft B byspur-gcars G- and H.

Shaft F is also provided with another spur-gear, I,

which drives the feeding devices.

The tap-spindle J is fitted to the interior of the hollow shaft F, the parts being furnished with a groove and spline, whereby the tap-spindle is allowed a longitudinal movement, independent of the hollow shaft F, but is, at the same time, caused to revolve therewith, for the purpose of workiug the tap K, which is arranged in the inner end of the spindle J, as shown.

A feeding-screw, L, is joined to the end of the tapspindle J by means of a screw-cap M, which fits over the head of.the feed-sorewL and screws onto the end of the spindle J, where it is retained by a check-put, J, all of which is fully shown in fig. 3 ofthe drawing. The feed-screw L is provided with a projecting cen-v ter-pin, m, which extends into an opening in the end of thetap-spindle J, and thereby retains the parts in the proper relative .position as regards each other.

The feed-screw L is held from revolving by means of an arm, L, rigidly secured tothe screw L, near its inner end, and having its lower end arranged to travel between guides at it upon the body of the head-v block.

The feed-screw is moved longitudinally, to cause the taps to advance or recede to or from thework, by means of a spur-gear, N, the hub N of which is provided with a female screw-thread, and serves as a out upon the feed-screw, moving it in or out, according to the direction in which the gear N is revolved.

The hub N of the gear N is supported byamovable bearing, 0, which I-call the thrust hearing, it receives the pressure and thrust occasioned by moving up the taps K to the work.

The thrust bearing 0 is provided with beveled earpieces, i, which are fitted to slide in grooves formed upon guide-blocks P, whereby the bearing, .0 is permitted to move back and forth for a short distance in a direction parallel with the axis of thescrew L and tap-spindle J.

A, fork, Q, is arranged at the outer end of the hearing 0, the prongs of which project upward between the ear-pieces i of the bearing 0, and a pair of angular lugs, P, attached to the outer side of the guideblocks P. The points of the fork Q are beveled ed, as shown in fig. 6, so that, by raising the fork upward,

the beveled ends passingbetween the angular lugs I v and ear-pieces i, hold or press upon the thrust bearing 0, while the taps K are commencing to operate.

When the fork Q is lowered the pressure is removed from the bearing 0, so that there will be no strain upon the'tap while it is being withdrawn from the fitting, after the thread has been formed therein.

The fork Q is operated by a lever device arranged beneath the machine, which device will be hereafter 7 arm of the bearing k, or fromj some other convenient 7 portion of the machine.

The speed of the feeding devices may-he changed by changing the gear N and pinion R for others of greater or lesser diameter.

j The back shaft R is provided at its inner end with a spur-gear, S, which meshes with the gear I upon the hollow shaft F, and by this means motion is transmitted to the various parts connected with the shaft It.

The tapping and feed devices upon each of the several head-blocks E E E are of the same construction and arrangement, except that to one of the back shafts Bi. (in this instance the one upon the head E) is added a worm or'screw, T, for actuating-"the mechanism of the shipper devices, which are arranged as hereafter described. I l

The outer end of the operating-shaft Bis prolonged 7 beyond the end of the frame A far enough to support thetwo driving-pulleys V V, both of which are hung loosely upon the shaft B, in the position indicated in .figs. 1 and 2.

' The pulleys can he joinid at will to the shaft B for v operation by means of a clutch device between their f The end of. the shaft Bis formed hollow, and it is slotted through for a short. space at a position central to the hubs of the driving-pulleys.

' A spindle, t, extends into the end of the shaft B, th inner end of which is furnished with a cross-head, u,

that projectsont through the slot in the shaft B, at the center between the hubs u'v'.

the hubs 'v v to receive the ends of the cross-head 'u, and either of the pulley-hubs may be locked to the shaft Bby moving the spindle t in or out far enough to cause Notches are formed in the cross-head u' to enter the notches on one of the hubs,

Both of the pulleys c c-may, when desired, be left .free to turn loosely upon the shaft B by moving the cross-head 'u to a position intermediate between the hubs 'v c. I

The end of the shaft B is supported in-a bearing,

w, at the outside of the pulley V.

The spindle t is operated by means of a shipperlever, W, which is pivoted to the end of the spindle t,

and fulcrnmed at W upon an arm,\V, which extends back from the main frame, as indicated in figs. 1 and 2.

'A longitudinal slot is formed through the lever W to receive the fulcrum-bolt'W, and the lever is thereby permitted to conform to the direct line of motion required for the spindle t. The lever W is arranged in an oblique position, and its upper end is provided with a handle, 2:, by means of which the shipper device can be operated by hand, while its lower end W is pivoted to the end of a rod, Y, by means of which the shipper is connected with devices for operating the lever W automatically.

The driving-pulleys V V are turned in opposite directions, one being driven with a crossed belt and the other with an open belt, and the working parts of the machine aredriven forward or backward accordingly as the pulley V or V is locked tothe shaft B; arrows upon fig. 1 indicate the direction of motion of each of the pulleys.

ner edges to prevent the belts from running in con tact with each other.

- The shipper-rodYis provided with two stop-collars, 1 and 2, and it is moved back and forth by the action of the worm or screw T upon the back shaft R, which screw meshes with and operates a toothed segment, T, pivoted at 3 to the side of the'head-block E. An arm, T, extends downward from the segment T, the lower end of which is joined by links 4 to a slide, 5, upon the shipper-rod Y.

As the slide 5 is moved forward or backward along thereby moves the rod Y and operates the shipper devices. s

The collars 1 and 2 are secured to the rod Y by means of set-screws, and they may readily be adjusted thereon to different positions to change the action of the machine, making it'run in one direction for a longer or shorter time, as desired.

A coiled-wire spring, 7, is arranged around the rod Y, between the slide 5 and the collar 2, for the purpose of throwing the shipper far enough to carry the cross-head u of the clutch past the center,.from one hub c" to the other hub c, and thereby reverse the motion of. the machine.

The forward end of the rod Yis in this instance passed through an opening in the hanger-frame D,- whereby it is supported in the proper position.

The lever device for operating the forks Q is illustrated by fig. 4-of the drawin It consists of a main lever, 8, to which are connected two side levers, 9 and 10, arranged at right angles to the main lever 8, and connected therewith by means of ball-joints, as shown at their junction 11.

The levers 8, 9, and 10 are each fulcrumed near their centers to the fulcrum-pieces 12, while their outer ends are pivoted to the lower ends of the shanks .Q' of the forks Q.

The front end of the main lever is provided with a treadle, 13, and the operator, by pressing down said treadle 13 with his foot, can with' one movement throw up all of the forks Q to not forward the thrust-bear ings 0, as all of the levers act in concert."

The levers are held when down by means of a spring latch, 14, which looks over one of the levers, as indicated. This latch is automatically drawn back to release the lever at the proper moment by a rod,

a-simple lever, 16, to the lower end of the arm T of the shipper segment T, in the manner fully shown in fi 2' The rod 15 passes through the upper end of the cured in a peculiarly constructed vise or holder, a

the drawing.

A bed-plate, 19, is secured to the top of the frame A by the screws or bolts 20, which pass through slots in the plate 19, to permit a lateral adjustment of said plate.

The

The pulleys are provided with flanges at their inthe rod Y it engages with the stop-collars 1 and 2, and Q 15, the rear end of which is connected by means of latch 14, and it is provided with an adjustable collar, 17, which, coming in contact with the top of the latch a 14, as the rod 15 is moved backward, releases the lcticles to be operated upon by the taps K, are se-- central vertical section of which is shown by fig. 5 of To the upper side of the bed-plate 19 is fitted a sliding plate, 21, arranged with dovetailed ways in such a manner that it can be moved forward and backward by means. of a bell-crank hand-lever, 22, fulcrnmed at its knee to a projecting portion, 23, of the bedplate 19, and provided at its inner end with a pin, 24, which works in a transverse slot in the slideplate 21.

A swing-bar, 25, is pivoted at its center to the slide-plate 21, by a pintle-bolt, 26, and upon the top of said swing-bar is a supporting-flame, 27, in which are arranged the vise-jaw levers 28 and clampingscrews 29. I

The levers 28 are pivoted at their inner ends upon screws or bolts 30, and the screws 29 are set in a vertical position, so as to screw down upon the outer ends of said levers, and ca'hse them to hold the lfittings.

The screws '29 are provided with ball-handles 31, whereby they can be conveniently and rapidly operated.

Springs 32 are arranged beneath the levers 28, as indicated, for the purpose of raising them when the screws 29 are run up.

At each *end of the swing-bar 25 is arranged a holding-box, 33, constructed so as to fit closely around and embrace the several ends of the fitting 34, and, when ,the jaw-lever 28 is set down upon the top of, the box 33, the fitting 3.4 is held firmly and securely, in place.

The upper part of box 33 can be removed when the lever 28 is raised,.'as indicated at the righthand end in fig. 5, for the purpose of exchanging the fittings.

A series of different-sized boxes is used to correspond with the different-sized fittings.

Studs 35 project up from the bed-plate 19, between which the end of the swing-bar is held when the parts are in working position.

The studs 35 are provided with flanges at their in-' ner sides, which fit in the grooves formed on the sides of the swing-bar 25, and thereby prevent any vertical movement of the parts during the operation of tapping.

When the slide-plate 21 is moved out, by swinging forward the handle of the lever 22, the 'end of the swing-bar 25 is released from between the studs 35,- and the position of the swing-bar 25 and parts connected therewith can be reversed. This enables the or B, as most convenient.

Upon large and heavy machines, where great power 'is required, the driving-pulleys may be arranged upon a side shaft, which shaft can be connected by a suitablepinion'to a large gear fixed upon the shaft B, and the necessary power he thereby gained.

The operation of my improved tapping-machine is as follows: I

The fitting to be tapped is secured within the box 33, in the manner explained, the bar 25 is swung around, and the slide-plate moved in, so as to bring the end of the bar between the studs 35. This sets the fitting 34 in the proper position to receive the taps K.

The operator then places his foot upon the treadle 13, and depresses the levers 8, 9, 10, which are caught and held down by the latch 14.

a into the notch on the hub 21, and locks the pulley- V to the shaft B, thereby setting the machine in motion.'

The taps K are fed forward into the fitting by the nut-gear N and feed-screw L, all of the taps advancing simultaneously.

The worm T, acting upon the segment '1 and arm T moves forward the slide 5 upon the rod Y, the spring 7 being compressed'until it rests solidly against the collar 2, at which time the pressure, acting against the collar 2, moves forward the rod Y, and actuates the shipper-lever W, so as to release the cross-head u from the notch in the h ub r, when the spring 7, suddenly being relieved, expands, and, by throwing forward 'the rod Y, carries the cross-head a past the center and into the notches upon the hub c, thereby releasing the pulley V, and locking the pulley V to the shaft B, which operation reverses the motion of the machine, so as to withdraw the taps from the fitting.

At the .same instant that the shipper is operated to reverse the motion of the machine the rod 15, which is drawn back by the .lever 16, removes the latch 14, and releases the levers 8, 9, 10, which, in rising, draw down the fork Q, and thereby relieve the pressure upon the thrust bearing 0, leaving said bearings loose, so that there will be no strain upon the taps, during their backward movement, as they are led out by the feed-screws L, thus preventing them from tearing out or injuring the thread as they are withdrawn from the fittings.

The machine-runs with the reverse motion until the taps K are at a proper distance out of the way, when the slide 5, coming in contact withthe collar 1 upon the rod Y, moves back the shipper- -lever far enough to release the cross-head u from the notches on the hub 41 of the pulley V, which latter being unlocked from the shaft B, the motion of the machine is discontinued.

The operator then swings out the handlejof lever 22, and thus moves out the slide-plate 21, so as to allow the reversing of the swing-bar 25, which brings to the front the finished fitting, and carries into position the next to be operated upon.

The operator removes the finished fitting from the box 33 at the outer end of the swing-bar 25 during the operation of tapping the fitting in the box at the inner end of said bar, the only time wasted by stopping the machine being just suflicient to permit of the reversing of the swing-bar and holders, which requires but a moment.

It will be observed that, the three operating-shafts B B. B being geared to the horizontal gear D, and all other parts of the working mechanism connected by gear, the motions of all the parts are rendered positive and uniform, both in their forward and backward movement, This is important, and gives my machine great advantage over machines previously used for this purpose, since there is no liability of one tap failing to operate to the same extent as the others.

Having described my improved tapping-machine,

, WhatI claim therein as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination, withlthe tapping-spindle J and feed-screw L, of the screw-cap M, lock-nut J, and center-pin m, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. v

2. Thecombination, with the tapping mechanism and locking-clutch, of the shipping devices, consisting of .the worm T, segment T, arm T link 4, slide 5, collars 1 and 2, spring 7, rod Y, levers W nut N, gear-wheel N, sliding bearing 0, and fork W W, and spindle t, substantially as and for the Q, constructed and arranged to operate as described. purposes setforth. 5. The combination of the swiveled frame 27,

3. The combination, with the arm T and levers slide-plate 21, swing-bar 25, levers 28, clamp-screws 8, 9, 10, of the latch 14, rod 15, lever 16, and adjust- 29, and holding-boxes 33, substantially as described. 7

.ahle collar 17, substantially asv-and for the purposes CHARLES B. LONG. set forth. Witnesses:

4. The combination of the rotary spindle J, piv- 'lnos. H. DODGE, oted to feed-screw L, arm L, guides n, revolving CHAS. H. BURLEIGH. 

